After what she called a subpar performance against William & Mary in the season opener, Terrapins women’s lacrosse coach Cathy Reese wanted to see her club have more success in the draw circle and picking up loose balls.
Reese’s team responded against Georgetown on Saturday, winning the draw control battle, 20-8, while posting a 19-13 edge in ground balls en route to an 18-8 victory over the Hoyas at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
“We came out really strong today, really proud of our team’s effort,” Reese said. “We saw a lot of good things and need to continue to work on making sure we remain consistent. “
Midfielder Bryn Boucher scored the Terps’ first goal of the afternoon under a minute into the contest, and the club’s offense never looked back.
Midfielders Taylor Hensh, Caroline Steele and Kacie Longo each exploited the Hoyas defense as the Terps opened the game on a 12-0 run.
Georgetown did not get on the board until just over eight minutes in the first period, when midfielder Kristen Bandos scored on an assist from attacker Taylor Gebhardt.
Bandos provided all of the offense for the Hoyas in the first half, scoring a pair goals.
At the half, the Terps had a 14-2 edge and were outshooting the Hoyas, 19-5. Georgetown only made a pair of those attempted shots.
“Our first half shows what potential we have as a team,” midfielder Zoe Stukenberg, said. “But we definitely have to work on being able to put together 60 full minutes.”
Bandos scored the first goal of the second half, but Megan Whittle’s free position shot gave the Terps a 15-3 edge.
Following Steele’s final goal of the afternoon, though, the Hoyas started to rally. Attacker Colleen Lovett scored with 16:15 remaining in the contest to begin what would become a 5-0 Hoyas run.
“We got back doored a little too much,” Reese said. “We got caught ball watching a little bit. Our communication between some of our slides weren’t there. Defensively, we need to make sure we continue to remain consistent.”
Megan Taylor made her first career start in goal for the Terps and was replaced by Emily Kift with just under seven minutes remaining in the first period. Goalkeeper Emma Moss replaced Kift 12 minutes into the second half.
“I was just excited to get out there and go play,” Taylor, who was only between the pipes for one attempted goal, said. “Our goal as a team is to keep [the opponent] under 10 for the whole game.”
Stukenberg led the Terps’ offense with three goals and a pair of assists. Midfielder Taylor Cummings, who scored for the first time with just under three minutes remaining, recorded three assists and won six draw controls.
The Terps outshot the Hoyas, 34-17, and made two of their five free position shots.
But it was their first-half performance that set the tone in the dominating victory.
“We came out on fire,” Reese said. “That was one of the best halves of lacrosse I’ve seen in a long time. As a coaching staff and a team, we’re really excited about our potential offensively.”
